cellphone to avoid disclosure in public records requests. Angelle's rule changes are forecast to save the oil and gas industry over $1.3 billion in regulatory compliance costs over the next decade. In 2017, the Interior Department withdrew its sole liability bonding requirement on rig owners, which had required offshore drillers to post guarantees that they would pay for the ultimate removal of their rigs. The change was lobbied for by Trent Lott and John Breaux, and will save the industry hundreds of millions of dollars. Drillers have posted $2.9 billion of the estimated $40 billion in removal costs. In July 2017, the Interior Department reduced the royalty rates drillers must pay the government to drill on the Gulf's Outer Continental Shelf from 18.75% to 12.5%. In June 2017, Angelle doubled the time drillers are given to remove unproductive or damaged platforms. In October 2017, the Bureau responded to a 672,000 gallon oil leak from a pipeline fracture southeast of Venice, Louisiana in the largest accident since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In December 2017, Angelle reduced maintenance requirements on offshore platforms. That month, Angelle proposed to relax the well-control rule, which had been implemented in response to the Deepwater Horizon explosion. Angelle's proposal would reduce blowout preventer inspection requirements, allow operations to continue while liftboats approach, and would save the industry $986 million in the next decade. Personal life Angelle and his wife have three daughters and two sons. He is a parishioner of Saint Bernard Roman Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge. Angelle served on Sunoco Logistics's board of directors for four years, for which he was paid $1 million. See also List of American politicians who switched parties in office References External links Angelle for Governor Campaign Website PSC Government Website Financial disclosures from ProPublica |- 1961 births 21st-century American politicians Businesspeople from Louisiana Cajun people Candidates in the 2016 United States elections Catholics from Louisiana Lieutenant Governors of Louisiana Living people Louisiana Democrats Louisiana Republicans Members of the Louisiana Public Service Commission Parish jurors and commissioners in Louisiana People from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana Politicians from Baton Rouge, Louisiana Politicians from Lafayette, Louisiana School board members in Louisiana State cabinet secretaries of Louisiana University of Louisiana at Lafayette alumni